Barzakh — The Life Between Death and Resurrection

Barzakh is the intermediate state between death and the Day of Resurrection. The word appears in the Quran: "And behind them is a barrier (barzakh) until the Day they are resurrected" (Quran 23:100). This realm is part of the unseen (al-ghayb) that Muslims believe in based on revelation. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) provided detailed descriptions of what occurs in barzakh, including the questioning by angels, the experience of the grave, and the soul's state as it awaits the final reckoning.

The Moment of Death

When a believer's soul is taken, it emerges easily and is received by angels with glad tidings: "Those whom the angels take in a good state, saying: Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do" (Quran 16:32). The soul of the righteous is wrapped in fragrant shrouds and ascends through the heavens, where each gate is opened for it. Conversely, the soul of the disbeliever is extracted with difficulty and is refused entry at the gates of heaven. These descriptions come from the lengthy hadith narrated by al-Bara ibn Azib (Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Abu Dawud).

The Questioning in the Grave

After burial, two angels named Munkar and Nakir come to question the deceased. They ask three questions: Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is this man who was sent among you (referring to the Prophet)? The believer answers: My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam, and he is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. The disbeliever or hypocrite stammers and cannot answer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I have been shown that you will be tested in your graves with something close to the trial of the Dajjal" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Punishment and Bliss of the Grave

After the questioning, the deceased experiences either bliss or punishment. For the righteous, the grave is expanded and filled with light. A window to Paradise is opened, and they experience its fragrance and breezes. They are told: "Sleep like a bridegroom whom only his most beloved would wake." For the wicked, the grave constricts until their ribs interlock, a window to Hellfire is opened, and they are tormented by heat and smoke. The Prophet (peace be upon him) frequently sought refuge from the punishment of the grave and instructed his ummah to do the same: "Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave" (Sahih Muslim).

The Soul in Barzakh

The exact nature of the soul's experience in barzakh is from the unseen, and we believe in it as described without attempting to rationalize beyond what revelation provides. Ibn al-Qayyim's masterwork "al-Ruh" (The Soul) is the most comprehensive treatment of this subject. Some souls may visit each other, and the righteous are in varying degrees of bliss depending on their ranks. The martyrs are described as alive with their Lord: "And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision" (Quran 3:169). Barzakh reminds the Muslim that death is not the end but a transition, and that preparation for the afterlife begins in this life.